Tube and bulb assembling machine



April 21, 1942. B. A. SCHMITTER TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE FiledMay 26, 1938 11 SheetsSheet. l

ii N a gnu-mo a. sewn/rue 11 SheetZS-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 193

April 1942. a. A. SCHMITTER 6 TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May26, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 A ril 21, 1942. B. A. SCHMITTER 2,230,565

' TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 2a, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 4Zlwumadiom Q B. A. SCHMITTER 2,280,665

TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1958 1; Sheets-Sheet 5April 4 B. A. SCHMITTER. 2,280,665

TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 26 1938 11 Shee ts-Sheet eApril 21, Q 1942.

BQA.SCHMHTER TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1938 llSheets-Sheet 7- April 21, 1942- B. A. SCHMlTTER 2,280,665

TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 8April 1942- B. A. SCHMiTTER 2,280,665

TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 9April 21, 1942.

B. A. SCHMITTER 2,280,665

TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 1OB. A. SCHMITTER 2,280,665 TUBE AND BULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE April 21,1942.

Filed May 26, 1938 11 Shets-Sheet 11 Patented Apr. 21, 1942 TUBE ANDBULB ASSEMBLING MACHINE Bernard A. Schmitter, Rahway, N. 1., assignor toStanco, Incorporated AppIicationMay 26, 1938', SeriaLNo. 210,290

4- Claims.

This invention relatesto thestructure and operation of anassemblingmachine... More particularly, it relates to a machinefor-assembling. the component parts of tubular articles such as medicinedroppers and thelike.

In. its preferred embodiment, the machine. is especially adaptedforaccomplishing the telescopic association. of atubeotglass or other hardmaterials with; a flexible bulb of rubber or the like.

Other objects willhe apparent and the invention may be fully understoodfromithe specifications when read coniunctiontwi-th the. accompanyingdrawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the. apparatus with parts broken-.away.

Fig. 2-is an end. elevation of the apparatus with. parts. broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevationof. the apparatussfrom the driving side. 7

Fig. 4 is a plan :view oi theapparatus along the line IV-IV of Fig- 3.

Fig- 5- is. a. detailed. plan; view of the feed conveyors for thebulbs-Fig. 5a is a. side. elevational view oithe structure 'shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5-b is a. transverse. sectional view taken along the line V--V. 01%Fig. 5;.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged. plan view of the assembly mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detailed View of. the bulb retainer members,

Fig. 8 is. anv enlarged sectional view of the as-- sembly mechanismalong-the line. VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 isan enlarged. view oi the face of atube Fig. I8 is an enlarged.view of. the plunger assemblypartly in section- Figs. 19 and 20. are.enlargedsideand end. views, respectively, of sleeves used to support thetubechutes.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged'view. otaportlon ot the tube case showing theclosure rollersfor onetube chute and the operating. mechanism therefor.

Figs- 22 and. 231are side elevationaland plan views of roller guides.for. bulbs.

Fig. 24 is a transverse sectionalview taken aranr ()FFICE alongthe lineXXLVXXIV of Fig. 2,1 showing.

the structure for feeding the tubes from the tube case. I

Fig. 25 is a sectional View taken along the line XXVXXV of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a detail view of thestructure for feeding the tubes to thetube case.

Fig. 27 is a topplan view of the structure illustrated: in Fig. 26..

Fig. 28 is a top plan view of the roller mechanism for driving the tapeto feed the tubes into the tube case.

Fig. 29- is a side elevational view' of the structure illustrated inFig. 28'.

Fig. 30 is an end elevational view looking in the direction XXX-r-XXX'of Fig. 29..

Fig. 31 is a sideelevational viewcorresponding to Fig. 29, but showing,the rollers 19' and'iill in operative position; and

Fig. 32 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 29, showing, the latch inposition to hold the rollers in engagement-against the tape.

Referring to the drawings. in Fig. 1 there is shown a comprehensive viewof an assembling machine. In this figure, the miscellaneous elementscomprising one embodiment of the invention, are illustrated, generally,in their operative association with each other.

The assembling machine is mounted on a platform table I- and is composedof a drivingmechani'sm, bulb conveyors, an assembly mechanism and feedmechanism for tubes.-

The driving mechanism, as shown, includes a motor 2 connected by meansof belt 3 to a pulley 4. A free pulley, 5- is also providedso that bymeans of belt shifter 6 operation of. the machine may be halted withoutstopping the motor. The pulley 4 is carried on a shaft extending. into.reduction gear box I, and thereby drive shaftsB and 9 extendingtherefrom. The shaft it carries a. gear in and a pulley H, while shaft.9 carries a pulley l2 and a sprocket l.3',,the purpose of whichelementswill later be described.

The bulb conveyormechanism M, and the portionsthereof which also form apart ofthe assembly mechanism. includes feed. conveyors. [5 extending.beyond. the table I, and carrier or positioning conveyors 1.6. A- frameH, preferably jointed at the table edge, support the conveyors and theirimmediately related parts. The frame H, as shown,.is in two.-parts,.thatwhich liesrover' the table I, and that Whichextendsbeyondit, and isformed of-four side rail portions; the forward two portionsbeing.secured. to the. table by angle brackets, While the twoportionsextending, beyond the table are bolted or otherwise joined tothe forward portions. The conveyor elements, as well as other portionsof the complete machine, except the tube reservoir, reservoir supplymeans, and the driving apparatus, are shown in a tandem arrangement.

The conveyors [5, as shown, include endless belts l8 extending over thecentral grooves of triplex pulleys 19 disposed at the outer end of theframe l1, and over the central grooves in triplex pulleys 28 at anintermediate point on the frame. ends of the portions of frame H whichextends beyond the table, and extending above said portions, spacermembers Ila are secured to main tain the parallel relation of the framerail members. These members Ha also serve to support guide members 2 I,which are secured dependent therefrom at each side of each of the beltsl8 for the greater portion of the distance between pulleys I9 and 28.These guides serve to maintain the position of bulbs which, as laterdescribed, are initially placed on the belts l8 by the machine operator.The guide members as shown, are merely narrow strips of metal held inedgewise relation to the clamps Ila by screws or other suitable means.Between the clamp and the pulley [3 are disposed idler pulleys [8a whichdepress the endless belts l8 and maintain their tension.

The conveyors [8, as shown, include the parallel belts or tapes 22 and23, passing around duplex pulleys 24 at the inner end of the frame I!and around the outer grooves of the triplex pulleys 19. The idlermechanism 25 beneath the frame I! maintains the required tension on thebelts 22 and 23. This mechanism may be of any conventional form, but asshown, it consists of a shaft carried by the frame H from whichpivotally depend a series of arms each provided with a pulley wheel atits lower end, the pulley wheels engaging the belts 22 and 23, and bythe weight of the pulley wheels. and arms maintaining a tension on thebelts which is sufficient to prevent whipping or slipping thereof.Support for the upper portion of the belts 22 and 23 is obtained fromthe outer portion of the pulley 20 over which the belts pass. As analternate arrangement, it is possible ,to have the belts 22 and 23encircle the pulleys 20 being disposed in the two outer grooves ofeach,.andin such case, the idlers 25 are usually not required.

The assembly mechanism is disposed at the innerend of the positioningconveyors l5 and below the feed mechanism for tubessembly mechanismincludes a shaft 26 carried by and extending outwardly beyond supports21 at each end. Cam members 28 are secured to the inner sideof each ofthe supports 21, and between thecam members are disposed the duplexpulleys 24 and plunger guides 32. The shaft 26, in addition to drivingtheconveyor mechanism, provides the means whereby motion is transmittedto the balance of the assembly mechanism. At the one end of the: shaft26 a gear meshes with gear ID on shaft 8. On the other end of the shaft26, a gear 38, driving through a gear train 36a, transmits motion to agear mounted on a shaft 31.

The shaft 31 is mounted on supports 38 and 39, and carries that portionof the assembly mechanism directly associated with the feed mechanismfor tubes. Mounted midway of the shaft 31 between the supports 38 and39, are tube carriers 48 and 41 spaced from each other by The as- Atpoints adjacent the inner and outer their hubs so that the edge of eachcarrier is opposed to substantially the center line of one of the duplexpulleys 24. On the outer face of each carrier radial grooves-48a and 4mextend inwardly, terminating at the hub. Spaced from the grooved surfaceof each tube carrier are tube retainer discs 44. Each disc has a radialtube slot 45, see Fig. 8, disposed in substantially parallelrelationship with the top of the table I. Between the tuberetainer:discs 44 and the supports 38 and 39, are sleeves 43 and 42,respectively. The sleeves are grooved and slotted in the manner and forthe purpose later to be described; The tube retainer discs 44 and thesleeves 42 and 43 aremounted in fixed relationship to the tube feedmechanism, having central openings through which the shaft 31 passes,and in which the shaft is free to rotate. On the far side of the support38, the gear 46, mounted on the shaft 31, is driven in the mannerpreviously described. On the extreme end of shaft 31, and separated fromthe gear 48 by a fixed sleeve, is mounted a sprocket 41. i

The tube feed mechanism includes a tube case 48 supported above thetable I, at the assembly end, by means of legs 49 and 50. In the floorof the case are two openings partially closed by two sets of rollers SIand 52. As shown, these roller members 5| and 52' are each provided withflattened portions which in the assembly are disposed in opposedrelation, providing a space between each pair, large enough to permitpassage of a tube. The rollers are carried on shafts supported by thelower'p'ortion" of the case which extends downward beyond the floor.Dependent from the floor at the openings are two tubechutes 53 and 54extending downwardly and curving toward each other at their lower ends.The lower ends of the tube-chutes engage the slotted portions of thesleeves 42 and 43, to prevent rotation of the sleeves 42 and 43 on theshaft 31, and terminating at and opening through the discs 44 throughthe horizontal slot 45, to the edges of which the chute ends are securedas by soldering 'or other conventional means. If desired, discs 44 maybe attached to the sleeves 42 and 43 by screws extended through thediscs into the body of the adjoining sleeves, the screw heads being letinto the surface of the discs to provide a smooth contour. The rollersdisposed in the openings at the upper end of the tube-chutes areconnected to each other by means of links 55 and lever arms 58. Theouter end of the inner roller 5| carries a lever arm 51 connected bylink 58 to a lever on the outer end of a bevel gear shaft 59, supportedbeneath the floor of the case 48. The bevel gear 68 on the shaft 59meshes with a second bevel gear 6| on shaft 62, which shaft is driven bymeans of pulley 63 through belt 64 and pulley H on shaft 8. An idlerpulley 65 supported by leg 50 maintains tension on the belt 84.

On the upper edges of the tube case 48 above the leg 50, frame members66 and 61 pivotally support the inner end of arms 68 and 69. A

. curved tape guide I0 is also pivotally supported between th framemembers and extends downwardly into the case 48. A roller H is carriedat the inner end'of the tape guide 10 and a second roller 12 is mountedat the edge of the case 48 between the frame members 66 and 81. A fixedsupport 18 is secured at one end to the frame members 86 and 6'1. On thesupport 18 rests a spool 13 on which is wound a corrugated tubetape 14,in the corrugations of which are disposed the tube members supplied tothe case 48.

The spool is provided with an axle, the ends of which are engaged bytheouter-ends of the arms 68 and 69,-

Adjacent the leg 50, the table I carries angle iron arms I and I6,extending outwardly beyond the table'edge. Arm I5 supports an upright I?which in turnprovides support for the outer end of the member "I8. Thearms I5 and I6 also support knurled rollers I9 and 88 of which. rollerI9 is movably mounted by means of the lever 8I- and may be pressedtightly against the roller Silby means of the latch 82. The roller 89isfixed to a shaft extending through the arm I6 and carrying a bevelgear 83 which meshes with a similar gear mounted on the shaft 84,carried by supporting bearings 8411 on the arm I8. The shaft 86 isdriven by a sprocket 85 connected by a chain 86 to the sprocket IE onshaft 9.

Also supported on the legs 4i) and 50, above the table I, and atapproximately the level of the end of tube-chutes 53. and 54-, shafts 81and 38 carry fibrous discs 89 and rollers 98. The discs 89 are of suchdiameter as to provide for contact with the end of the tubes leaving thechutes 53 and 52 or just entering the tube carriers 4G and 4|. Areservoir Si is disposed immediately below the shaft 88. Liquid in thereservoir 9| is picked up by the rollers 98, partly immersed therein,and is transferred to the fibrous discs 89 through contact between theedges of the discs and rollers. Shaft 88 is driven by means of asprocket 94' connected by a chain 95 to the sprocket 4'! on shaft 37.Both shafts B7 and 38 extend beyond their supports on leg 49 and carryinter-meshing gears 92 and 93, by means of which motion is transmittedto the shaft 83.

Beneath the tables. conveyor belt 98, passing over pulleys 91 and 99, isdriven by means of the shaft 96 on which the pulley 51 is mounted. Theshaft 96 is in turn driven through a pulley IUI by means of the belt I06connected to pulley I2 on shaft 9 of the driving mechanism. The conveyorbelt 98 receives the assembled articles from the assemblymechanismthrougha slot in the table top and the belt extending beyondthe edge of the table conveys these articles to a receptacle therefor.

The apparatus thus generally illustrated in Fig 1 and described above,is more specifically shown in the remaining drawings in which like partsare identified by the same numerals as in Fig. 1. For the most part,Figs. 2 to 24 inclusive,

illustrate the specific details of the elements of which the assemblymachine is composed or enlarged views of the interrelationship of suchelements. In addition, some ofthe figures illustrate preferred auxiliaryequipment forming a part of the present invention.

Fig. 2' provides a view of the apparatus fromflexible so as to permitwinding of the tape and tubes on a spool, such as spool I3.

The spool I3 is frictionally supported on the support '18 and ismaintained in fixedly spaced relation to the case 4.8;by means ofarms68; and

IE9, slotted attheir outer ends; tov engage an axle for the spooll I13,and having. latches such as indicatedat 68a.- The tape Mi passes overthe I tube-tape guide into the case d8, reverses its direction over theroller .1 I1, and; passing out. of the case 48 over roller 1.2", extendsdownwardly between the knurled rollers 'IHrandBIl, shown in Figs 1, 4,and 28 to 32', inclusive. In Fig. 2, the means for driving these rollersis more clearly illustrated. In addition, the driving connection betweenthe gear boxI and the meansfor operating the roller closures 5| and 52for the tubechutes 54 and 53 is. more clearly shown: as: well asthemeans for driving the belt; conveyor 918.

In Fig. 3., anillustration of the apparatus from the driving side, theprincipal driving elements are illustrated in the'absence of those partsof the apparatus not directly included in the driving mechanism),

Fig. 4 is a plan. view. of theapparatus taken along the line IV--IV' ofFig.3, and shows in considerable detail the arrangement andinterrelation of the parts described with reference to Fig. l. Includedin this figure is. a partial showing of casings 21a. and. 211) which aresecured to the shaft supports 21. and 38g and 21 and 3.9, respectively.These casings serve to cover the gears at the outer ends of shafts. 26and 31 for a purpose later set forth. Fig. 4 is especially-useful in itsshowing of" the mannerin whichv the feed conveyor I51cooperateswith thepositioning or carrier conveyor I6.

In Figs. 5, 5--a and 5--b, the idler mechanism for the tape I3 in thefeed conveyor I5 is shown in geater detail.

In the enlarged view provided by Fig. 6, the contact between. thefibrous disc 89 and the end of the tube entering theradial grooves Gilaand Mais. shown. Inaddition, this figure shows the dispositionof bulbspreader and holding members I02 at the point atwhich the tube and bulbare joined. The figure further shows the manner in which the plungerrods 34: are pressed through the openings therefor in the wheels 28 and3543f pulley 24', to engagethe bulbs-on the tapes 22' and 23, and aid inholding the bulbs rigidly during the insertion of tubes from the tubecarriers and III.

As shown in Fig; '7, the bulb holding elements I 02; are adjustablymounted on a cross member I03 which in turn is supported at each end bythe gearcasings 27a and 21b; partially illustrated in Figures 4 and 6.The members I52 are of generally rectangular shape with the lower endslightly bent and slotted to form fingers I95.

In Fig. 8, a view takenalong the line VIII- VIII. of Fig. 6, theintroduction of a tube in one of the grooves din; of tubecarrier 4! intoa bulb carried by the bulb tapes 23, is clearly indicated. The crosssectional view provided: by this figure, also shows the manner in whichthe tubes are introduced into theradial grooves of the tube carriersthrough slots 45 of thetube retainer discs Mi There is also shown theroller-bar idler Illt, by means of which thebulbs are firmly seated inthe space between the tape 23 just prior to-their engagement by theplunger rod 3 1-. Each of the two idler bars shown is composed of a thinflat strip of metal pivotally mounted on shaft IIlI at the forward end,the shaft extending transversely of the conveyor belts 2'2 and 23, andsupported at each end by supports Illlsecured to the upper surface ofgear casings 21a and 21b; The bars are so disposed withrelation to thebelts as to parallel and be in a vertical plane with a line through thecenter of the space between the belts. Each bar is provided with aplurality of small discs or rollers, rotatably mounted on pins disposedin staggered relation along each side of the bar. The rollers are ofsuch diameter and so mounted as to extend beyond the lower edge of thebars. The outer end of each of the bars I06 is supported by means of theangular bracket arms I08, which are carried by the frame II. Theseelements are also shown in greater detail in Figs. 23 and 24.Immediately below the assembly mechanism, a chute I09 is disposed forthe purpose of catching broken tubes or bulbs which have failed to beengaged by a tube member in the carriers 40 or M. Properly assembledarticles fall from the tube carriers at a lower point in the rotationthereof and are received by the belt 98.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated the appearance of a tube carrier such as 4 I,showing the slots Ma and their disposition on the face of the carrier.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the duplex pulleys 24 are more clearlyillustrated. As shown, these pulleys are formed of two wheels 29 and 30,of which the outer wheel 29 is provided with spaced circumferentialopenings 3|, permitting entrance of the inner end of the plunger rod 34,as shown in Fig. 6. The inner wheels 30 are imperforate and only servethe purpose of carrying the inner one of either of tapes 23 or 22.

The plunger guide wheel construction is shown by Figs. 13, 14 and 15.These wheels 32 are provided with circumferential openings 3I, and inassembling the apparatus, the openings 33 in the wheels 32 are alignedwith the openings 3I in the wheels 29 of the duplex pulleys 24, theplunger rod 34 being inserted in the openings with a spring member 3411,encircling the plunger rod 34 between the pulley wheels 29 and the guidewheels 30. In the cross sectional view, shown in Fig. 18, thisarrangement is illustrated.

Figs. 16 and 1'7, as previously indicated, are enlarged front and sideviews of the cam members 28, over which the plungers 34 are drawn byrotation of the duplex pulleys and the plunger guide wheels.

In Figs. 19 and 20, detailed side and end views of the sleeves 42, areprovided. The sleeves consist of a hub 42a and a flange 42b. The flangeis provided with a radial slot which extends a short distance beyond thejunction of flange and hub. The undersurface of the flange adjacent theslot, is undercut to a depth equal to the depth of the slot in theflange, and the hub 42a has a flattened surface corresponding to thebottom of the slot in the flange 4217. This construction of the sleeveis for the purpose of providing a passageway for the lower end of thetube-chutes 53 and 54, as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of one end of the tube case 48 taken fromabove, and shows in detail the arrangement of the roller closures I forthe tube-chute 54. In this view the mechanism for operating theclosures, as described in connection with Fig. 1, is more preciselyillustrated.

Figs. 28-32 are views of the means provided for drawing the tube-tape I4through the case 48 in order to discharge the contents thereof. Aspreviously mentioned, the roller 80 is the driven roller, while rollerI9, movable by means of the lever 8I, is adapted to force the tube-tapeI4 against the driven roller 80 in such manner as to cause the tape tobe drawn downwardly, and

through the case 48. The latch 82, pivotally mounted on the arm I5, isadapted to engage a lug on the lever 8I in order to maintain the rollerI8 in its operating position against the roller.

In Figs. 22 and 23 are shown side elevational and top plan views of theroller-bar idler I06, and in these figures the mounting of the idlers.on the support I04, as described in connection with Fig. 8, is moreclearly shown. These figures also illustrate the manner in which thecross member I03 carrying bulb holding elements I02, and the support I04are supported by the gear casings 21a and 211).

In utilizing the apparatus, according to the present invention, afterhaving mounted a spool of loaded tube-tape on the frame providedtherefor, the tape is threaded over the curved tape guide I0, around theroller II, and over the roller I2, to be drawn downwardly between theknurled rollers I9 and 80. The roller I9 is then clamped against thetape by means of the lever 8| and latch 82. In starting the operation,it is customary to partially fill the tube case 48 so that no time willbe lost in waiting for the supply from the tube-tape I4 to fill thechutes 53 and 54. With the case full, or partially filled, the arcuatemotion of rollers 5| and 52, agitates the tubes directly above them insuch manner that the tubes tend to fall or roll into the passageprovided when the flattened portions of the rollers come intoopposition, and thus enter the tube chutes 53 and 54 by gravity. Inaddition, the movement of the tube tape 14 through the case tends todistribute the mass of tubes more or less evenly throughout the case,and to some extent provide additional agitation which facilitates theirmovement toward and into the tube chutes 53 and 54. The feed rate oftubes from the tube-tape is such that it generally slightly exceeds therate at which the tubes and bulbs are assembled by the machine andtherefore the supply of tubes in the case 48 is always maintained. Atintervals, it may be necessary to stop the feeding of additional tubesto the case, but this is easily done by releasing the pressure of rollerI9 against the tube-tape. It is possible, of course, to so adjust thefeed rate of the tubetape as to maintain an equilibrium between thenumber of tubes supplied to the case and the tube withdrawn therefromthrough the chutes 54 and 55.

When the tube case 48 and the chutes 54 and 55 have been adequatelyfilled with tubes, the machine operator places a succession of bulbs onthe carrier tapes I8 between the guide mem bers 2|. The bulbs are placedon the tapes with the flanged or open end facing to the rear. The tapesI0 carry the bulbs forward until, passing beyond the pulleys 20, thebulbs are picked up by the tapes 22 and 23. The bulbs are supportedbetween the respective pairs of tapes by means of their flangedportions, with the upper portion of the bulb extending downwardlybetween the tapes, and the opening in the bottom of the bulbs facingupward and outward. In this position, the bulbs move forward with thetapes 22 and 23, and passing beneath the roller-bar idler I06 by meansof which the bulbs are firmly seated between the tapes. As the bulbs,supported by the tapes, enter into the space between the pulley wheels29 and 30 of pulleys 24, the plunger rods, carried between the wheels 30and plunger guide wheels 32, are forced forward by the contact of theouter end of the rod with the raised accepts surface of the cammembers28,;and enterthe spaces between the downwardly depending bulb tops asseparated by the flanged bottom portions thereof. Asthe bulb movesdownward over the circumference of the pulleys 24, the plunger rod 34operates to maintain the position of the bulbs on the tapes 22 and 23until they are engaged by the bulb holding elements I82. The spacebetween the elements m2 and the tapes 22 and 23 is so adjusted astocause the outer edges of the flanged portion of the bulb to beslightly compressed by the fingers I of the bulb holding members 102.Compression of the outer edges of 'abulbcauses the center portion tobulge outwardly between the fingers I05, and in so doing the mouth oropening of the bulb is distorted and expanded sufiiciently to facilitateintroduction of a tube from one of the radial grooves in the tubecarriers 40 and 4|. The inserted tube carried downward by the carriers40 or 4| exerts suificie'nt pressure upon the, bulb to assist in drawingit past the fingers N35.

The tubes from :case it, beingmetered through the opening in the bottomof the case by means of the paired rollers 5i and 52, pass downwardlythrough the tube-chutes 54 and 55 and emerge through the radial slots inthe tube retainer discs 44. As the tube carriers 40 and 4|, turned bymeans of the shaft 31, the radial grooves 490. and dla are brought intocollateral relation with the slots 45 in the retainer discs 44,permitting tubes to drop from the tube-chutes 54 and 55 into thegrooves. Also, as the tube carriers 40 and 4| continue to be rotatedinwardly toward the pulleys 24, the upper end of the tubes in the radialgrooves 411a and 41a are brought into contact with the fibrous discs 89,which have been moistened with liquid from the reservoir 9| by means ofthe rollers 90, in order to lubricate the end of each tube andfacilitate its introduction into the opening of a bulb. The length ofthe radial grooves Na and Ma is such that the tubes inserted thereinproject beyond the circumference of the tube carriers for approximatelysuch distance as it is desired they shall extend into the bulbs withwhich they are to be associated.

With rotation of the tube carriers, the tubes are carried downward withthe projecting end of the tube extending into the space between the tubecarriers and the pulleys 2 At the point of approximate tangentialrelation between the pulleys 24 and the tube carriers 69 and 41, thespace between the carriers and pulleys is slightly greater than thethickness of the flanges on the bulbs carried by the tapes 22 and 23.Accordingly, the projecting end of the tube in the carriers 45 and ll,being longer than the distance between the carriers and the pulleys,tend to extend into the spaces between the pulley wheels 29 and 30, andas the space between the pulley wheels and tapes is occupied by bulbs,the projecting ends of the tubes are forced to enter the openings in thebulbs faced toward them. As the tubes and bulbs are carried toward eachother by the counter-rotation of their respective carriers, theyapproach each other at an angle, the apex of which lies at the point ofapproximate tangential relation of the carrier members. In this way, thetubes are induced to enter the opening of the bulb in an edgewisefashion, in much the same manner as such entrance must be accomplishedin the manual assembly of the elements. Usually the tubes are providedwith a projecting lip at the end which is inserted into slightly smallerdiameter than that of the-tubes in order to provide for a grippingaction when the tube and bulb are assembled. The bulb 'spreaders M2,against the fingers of which the bulbs are pressed, slightly enlargetheopening in the bulb so that the lubricated end of the tubes:passingbetween the fingers of the spreaders are moreeasily introduced.v

The cam members 28 are so formed and disposed in the mechanism as toprovide for the prompt withdrawal of the plunger rod 34 from the spacebetween the pulley wheels 29 and 30, under pressure-o1" their-springmembers, as soon as the rotating pulley wheels and plunger guides carrythe plungers beyond the point of tangential relationship between thecarrier members. Thus the bulb, secured to the top end of the tube, isfree 'todisengage itself from the bulb carrier portion of themechanism,and with the tube be carrieddownwardby the tube carriers 40 and 4| untilby gravity the assembled tube and bulb drop from the radial grooves 40aand Ma on to the belt moving beneath the slot in the table top.

*Shoulda tube be broken during or shortly after its insertion into thebulb, the bulb and broken particles of the tube fall from theirrespective carrier element into the chute provided for that purpose, andare conducted to a point to the rear of and beyond the pulley whichdrives the belt conveyor for perfectly assembled articles.

The foregoing description has been set forth for the purpose ofillustration only, and various changes and alternate arrangements may bemade within the scope of the appended claims in which it is intended toclaim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior artpermits.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for assembling tubular articles, each composed of abody portion unit and a top portion unit telescopically associatedtherewith, a means for holding and positioning a plurality of topportion units for the insertion of corresponding body portion units,comprising a drive shaft, inner and outer pulley wheels mounted inspaced relation on said shaft, conveyor means for top portion unitsdriven and supported by said pulleys, a plunger guide wheel mounted onsaid shaft in spaced relation to the outer pulley, a cam member fixedlysupported in laterally spaced relation to said guide wheel, a pluralityof aligned lateral passageways disposed in spaced relation,circumferentially of said outer pulley and guide wheel, a plurality ofplunger rods disposed between said wheels, supported in the alignedpassageways in said wheels with the outer ends of said rods extendingthrough the guide wheel and beyond its outer face into intermittentcontact with said cam, means for rotating the shaft and wheels, wherebythe cam intermittently forces said rods through the aligned passageways,into the space between the pulleys, and spring means for withdrawing therods from said space.

2. In an assembly mechanism of the class described including a rotatablecircular carrier for dropper bulbs, and a circular rotatable carrier fordropper tubes disposed in closely spaced edgewise relation thereto; saidcarrier for dropper tubes comprising a circular plate mounted foropposed rotational motion with respect to a circular carrier for bulbs,said plate having a hub; a plurality of spaced, radial, semi-circularreceptacles in one face of said plate opening outwardly through theplate edge and terminating inwardly at the hub; a fixed tube retainerdisc mounted co-axially with said plate in spaced relation thereto, saiddisc having a radial slot through which tubes are fed into thereceptacles in said carrier.

3. In an assembly mechanism of the class described, including a rotatingcircular carrier for resilient flanged dropper bulbs and a rotatablecircular carrier for dropper tubes disposed in closely spaced edgewiserelation to each other; a means for expanding the opening in said bulbsduring the insertion of a dropper tube, comprising a cross frame membersupported above said carrier for bulbs, and a biiurcate memberadjustably secured to said cross frame member, the bifurcate portionsextending downwardly toward a point of approximate tangential relationto said bulb carrier, and spaced from said bulb carrier by slightly lessthan the thickness of a bulb flange to compress the outer edge of saidflange when engaged thereby.

4. An apparatus for assembling tubular articles, each composed of a bodyportion unit and a flanged top portion unit telescopically associatedtherewith, comprising a twin belt conveyor for top portion units, saidbelts being spaced to support the top portion units by their flanges, aspaced, coupled pulley means supporting said conveyor belts at one end,cam operated plunger means intermittently insertable through one side ofsaid pulley means, toward the other pulley means and in between the topportion units for maintaining movement of the top portion units aroundthe pulley means, a disc-shaped carrier for body portion units disposedin closely spaced edgewise relation to said pulley means opposite thecenter line thereof, said carrier having a plurality of radial groovesin one face opening out through the carrier edge for receiving andconveying body portion units, said grooves having a length less thanthat of a body portion unit, a fixed body portion unit retainer discdisposed in spaced relation to the grooved surface of said carrier, saiddisc having a horizontal radial slot opening therethrough, means forfeeding body portion units through said slot and into the grooves ofsaid carrier, and driving means for rotating said pulley and carrierelements in opposed circular motion to bring said units into telescopicengagement.

BERNARD A. SCHMITTER.

